The Awesome Pilbara

Hello dear blogsters - what a fantastic day we have had today!

We went into town this morning to do a heap of annoying jobs (getting fuel, getting groceries etc) and then called in to get permits to drive on a mine road before heading off for a day exploring the Millstream Chichester National Park. We drove out through Roebourne and then onto the dirt road for the next 190 km.

We drove through a wonderful landscape of spinifex and red dirt with deep, rust red ranges rising up on either side of us. We stopped off early in the day to photograph the flowers blossoming beside the road. The sturt desert peas were magnificent, as were the range of other flowers we could not name.

We continued on until we came to the turn-off for the Python Pool. We drove in and then walked up the dry creekbed to our destination. The Python Pool is a beautiful fresh-water pool at the foot of a small gorge. It always has water in it and is a wonderful place for a swim. As the temperature had climbed to the mid thirties - we were really glad of a refreshing swim. What a wonderful, peaceful place this was - with dragonflies flitting across the water, rust red rocks soaring above us and little fish darting through the cool, fresh water.We women swam across to the other side and sunned ourselves like mermaids on the rocks (well we sat on the rocks and tried to look half decent while the blokes took some photos!)After what seemed like way too short a time, we dragged ourselves out and back into the cars to continue our journey. We continued through a somewhat surreal, red, rock landscape for quite a while. We watched a train go past with about 236 carriages filled with ore. There are a heap of huge mines out here - including Tom Price and some Rio Tinto mines - making the most of the iron ore rich hills which stretch across the landscape.

We drove on until we came to the Millstream Homestead. We had lunch here under the shade of the trees before exploring the homestead and surrounds. This beautiful old homestead was first built in the 1800s and was the centre of a huge sheep and cattle station before being taken over by National Parks late last century.

We really enjoyed a walk down through the adjoining creek beds - it was an oasis of cool with beautiful clear running water and ponds filled with water lillies and fish. This lovely place holds special significance to the local aborigines as it is a meeting place and a place where laws are made and ceremonies held. They couldn't have chosen a more beautiful place!

After this walk, we drove on to the Fortescue River for a quick dip before beginning the long journey home. Again, the swim was most refreshing and really welcome after the heat of the day.

We drove back as the shadows were lengthening and the sun painted the ranges bright orange, red and yellow. What a perfect ending to such a wonderful day!Tomorrow we head north again - through Port Hedland and on to the 80 mile beach. I am not sure if we will be in phone range (so I can update the blog) - but I will write more as soon as I can.

Hi to everyone at home. Danni, I hope your bags are packed as it is only a few days until you join us at Broome! Hi to Mark who is visiting PJ at the moment..... and hi to all John, Nic and Bron's friends who are following our journey.